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I used to think that the San Francisco Civic Center Plaza is kind of dull and boring since there is not much action going on there usually unless there is a protest. But that thought went away immediately after I saw that how the plaza was transformed into a BMX racetrack!

For a long weekend in San Francisco, the BMX people actually created artificial mud hills and several seating pavilions at the plaza. I bet the person who designed the City Beautiful plaza a hundred years ago would never predict that happening. It also got me to believe that the greatest achievement of the City Beautiful movement was the creation of huge public open space in the heart of American downtowns. These open spaces, though usually monumental-looking, offer a venue for parades, concerts, celebrations and basically any events. The sky is the limit for using these open spaces.

Thanks for the visit. Actually some locals complained about how the BMX events (Dew Tour) highjacked the plaza. But I believe that it is amazing experience to see from construction to finish of the racetrack, and the eventual removal of the construction.